Appreciating Ability While Disagreeing on Politics

Evidently, the Seattle Seahawks' Matt Hasselbeck and Matt Strong have received exceptionally hostile reactions based on their appearance at a George W. Bush fundraiser. While the blame for that has been expressed as the result of their playing in a blue state and supporting a red state candidate, I don't understand why that should be the case.

In Tennessee, future hall of famer Eddie George was very vociferous in supporting Democratic candidates, even recording phone messages in behalf of candidates, but he remains widely loved by Titans fans. At the end of his career, fans questioned whether Mr. George's skills had deteriorated due to his heavy workload on the field, but otherwise he remained, and remains, in high regard. Partisan disagreements end not only at the nation's shores, but at the edge of the gridiron.

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin